Delosperma plant named ‘T1854’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Delosperma  plant named ‘T1854’ that is characterized by its very large flowers, its very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit; blooming from early summer to early autumn, its flowers that are intense violet-purple in color, its low-growing plant habit.

Botanical classification: Delosperma nubigenum.

Variety denomination: ‘T1854’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Community Plant VarietyOffice (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2021/2299 filed onSep. 17, 2021, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which isincorporated by reference herein. This Application is also related toU.S. Plant Patents for plants from the same breeding program entitledDelosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDRW5’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,572) andDelosperma Plant Named ‘P15R1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,674).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma nubigenum ‘T1854’ andwill be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘T1854’. The newcultivar of Delosperma is an evergreen perennial grown for container andlandscape use.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. Theoverall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars ofDelosperma plants with floriferous blooming habits and large flowers ina unique range of flower colors.

‘T1854’ was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in May of 2018 as asingle unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from crosses madebetween unnamed and unpatented plants from the Inventor's breedingprogram. Seeds were pooled from the crosses and therefore the exactparentage is unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings in September of 2018 by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun,Okayama-Pref., Japan. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings hasdetermined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘T1854’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘T1854’ exhibits very large flowers.    -   2. ‘T1854’ exhibits a very floriferous and long blooming        flowering habit; blooming from early summer to early autumn.    -   3. ‘T1854’ exhibits flowers that are intense violet-purple in        color.    -   4. ‘T1854’ exhibits a low-growing plant habit.

‘T1854’ can be most closely compared to the Delosperma cultivars‘WOWDRW5’ and ‘P15R1’. ‘WOWDRW5’ is similar to ‘T1854’ in having a lowgrowing plant habit and flowers that are purple in color. ‘WOWDRW5’differs from ‘T1854’ in having flowers that are lighter purple in colorwith larger white centers, a less floriferous blooming habit, flowersthat are smaller in size with less flower petals. ‘P15R1’ is similar to‘T1854’ in having a low growing plant habit, a floriferous bloominghabit, and purple flowers. ‘P15R1’ differs from ‘T1854’ in havingflowers that are smaller in size and a less floriferous blooming habit.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited towebsite listings by Darwin perennials, ballseed, ecgrowers, agriexpoonline, james greenhouses, landscapetrades, garden, nitter, visionspictures, cornell farms, gpnmag, gulleygreenhouse, online flippingbook,perennialmarket, the ivy farm, and sugarcreekgardens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The plant in thephotograph is 6 months in age as grown in a 3-liter container in anunheated greenhouse in Chicago, Ill.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a top view of ‘T1854’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘T1854’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 16-week-old plants of the newcultivar as grown in 15-cm containers in an unheated greenhouse inNoordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmentalconditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015;reprint 2019 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms from early summer to early autumn in            The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Evergreen perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Flattened, prostrate.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches an average of 7 cm in height and            about 34 cm in width.        -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy to at least U.S.D.A.            Zone 7.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous roots, primarily 161D in color.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Root development.—8 weeks for root initiation, 4 months from            a plug to young plant in a P9 container.        -   Growth habit.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—Young stems; 145A with 183A, older stems 145A            and 199C.        -   Stem size.—Lateral branches; an average of 11.5 cm in length            and 3 mm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—An average of 2.8 cm.        -   Stem substance.—Succulent.        -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy, moderately pubescent with            very short glandular hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length            and closest to 155C in color.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching both basal and lateral, an            average of 14 lateral branches per basal stem.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular in diameter.        -   Leaf substance.—Succulent.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface (upper and lower surface).—Slightly glossy,            sparsely to moderately pubescent with very short glandular            hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length, 157D in color.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 137C, base 145A,            mature upper and lower surface; 137A, base 145A.        -   Leaf size.—About 3.5 cm in length and 4 mm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 12 (6 pairs) per lateral branch.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary, terminal.        -   Flower number.—An average of 1 per lateral stem.        -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.        -   Flower longevity.—Average of 4 days, self-cleaning.        -   Flower type.—Single.        -   Flower size.—Average of 5 cm in diameter and 1.2 cm in            depth.        -   Flower buds.—Broadly ovate to oblong in shape, an average of            1.4 cm in length and 9 mm in diameter, color; 138A with            sepal portion 145B, surface texture is smooth and glassy            with the sepal portion smooth and dull.        -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 2 cm in depth and 7 mm in            diameter.        -   Sepals.—5, rotate, ovate in shape, margin entire, an average            of 8 mm in length and 4 mm in width, broadly acute apex,            broadly cuneate base, surface is smooth and dull, color            young and mature upper and lower surface; 137A, base 145A.        -   Petals.—An average of 44 per flower, rotate and slightly            curved downward, oblanceolate in shape, surface is smooth            and glossy on both surfaces, margin entire, apex obtuse,            base cuneate, an average of 2.1 cm in length and 2.3 mm in            width, color: upper and lower surface when opening and fully            open; N74A and 72B, base NN155D, non-fading on both            surfaces.        -   Petaloids.—An average of 30 per flower, rotate and near            vertical surrounding stamens, lanceolate in shape,            moderately to highly glossy and glabrous on both surfaces,            margin entire, apex obtuse, base truncate, an average of 8            mm in length and 1 mm in width, color: upper and lower            surface NN155D, top N74A.        -   Peduncle.—Average of 2.5 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,            straight on top of lateral branch at 0°, 145A in color,            surface moderately glossy and sparsely to moderately            pubescent with very short glandular hairs.        -   Pedicel.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—5, an average of 2 mm in length, stigma; triangular            shaped, style and stigma; (not distinguishable) combined an            average of 2 mm in length and 151B in color, ovary; 143C in            color.        -   Stamens.—Average of 60, 12A in color, anthers; dorsifixed            and narrowly oblong in shape, an average of 0.5 mm in            diameter, filaments; 5 mm in length, NN155D in color,            anthers; NN155D in color, 0.5 mm in diameter, pollen;            moderate to high in quantity and 6A in color.        -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the            conditions tested.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named‘T1854’ as described and illustrated herein.